McDonald’s Tragimercial?

During the football game today I saw the oddest commercial.

McDonald’s is featuring signs from local franchises:

Thank you veterans#PrayForDrewGod protect the USAKeep jobs in ToledoAll of us weep for the Columbia FamiliesWe remember 9 11[A pink sign with pink ribbons]PRAY for the rescue of the MINERSGOD GAVE US A MIRACLEBoston StrongWe will be back soon [in a flood – this one is actually compelling]We believe in you CrystalHappy 30th Ed n BethIt’s a girl Rosalie KayHug those dadsWelcome home 442nd fighter wingHappy 95 birthday Woody we love youA little lovin can change a lot

About 20 seconds into the spot the kids and I started talking about how it should end. Maybe with a slaughterhouse and a giant PETA logo? Or perhaps with some stoners and credit to The Onion. We just couldn’t believe what a mess we were looking at so we never made it past the one about the miners. When I googled the ad and watched the whole thing I was still left with no warm feelings about it.

I guess I don’t think of McDonald’s as the heart of my community. I’d be totally depressed if my local fast food place celebrated the birth of my kid or my 95th birthday. Further, this image is everything that’s wrong with breast cancer awareness:

I guess for the people who didn’t turn away to mock the commercial after 20 seconds something might resonate. I’m guessing they’d have to be fans of the brand already or perhaps franchise owners.

Mostly today my family and I sat around mocking a McDonald’s campaign and wondered who thought it was a good idea to take a brand with declining sales and tie it’s commercials to a bunch of tragedies.